With the economy still sluggish and advertising flat or only slightly increasing for most radio groups, NTR is quickly becoming a new sought after stream of revenue. There are all kinds of NTR events ranging from Expo's to theme cruises to annual anniversary concerts and some of these NTR events can generate up to one million dollars in revenue for a company.
There is one particular NTR event I think is appealing to any radio group and is attractive for more than just one or two reasons. This event appeals to all demos, sexes and races, can be executed across all formats and has multiple streams of revenue.
I'm talking about a Yard Sale/Garage Sale event idea. Where you have the opportunity to make money from multiple sources including early bird passes, entry fees, booth sales, commercial booth sales, title sponsors and other creative sponsorship opportunities like a performance stage sponsor, children's area sponsor and even a collection sponsor to collect any unwanted goods from vendors at the end of the event.
We executed this exact event in Birmingham last year (www.birminghambiggestyardsale.com) with over 300 vendors and 3000 listeners attending in the first year.
I can't say that every cluster will experience the same success with this event that we did in Birmingham, but I will say if your cluster is looking for a great event that you can execute across all the formats in your cluster that has multiple streams of revenue, then you owe it to yourself to at least discuss this one.
Lj
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
PANDORA, REALLY?
It amazes me how people taunt Pandora as better than radio, even going as far as to say it will replace radio. Before I get into Pandora, lets look back at all the inventions that were supposed to replace radio... eight tracks, cassette tapes, CDs, satellite radio, and mp3 players. Some of these inventions have come and gone and others have been around for years and have yet to replace traditional radio. You know why? Because radio is free and convenient. You just push a button or turn a knob and your radio is on. No opening, attaching, plugging in or paying.
Now back to Pandora which I think is just another fad and will fade off into the night like Black Planet, My Space and Blackberry. It's a new way to experience music but it's not as easy to use as radio. You pick your first song but Pandora picks the rest of the play list and some of the songs don't even fit or match, you're limited to the number of songs you can skip if you don't like a song Pandora chooses and it's not even commercial free.
Pandora won't last but the Internet will and the Internet is just another great source traditional radio can use to reach listeners. Radio isn't going anywhere and will only evolve with technology. And with that, not only are you able to listen to your favorite station through a traditional radio but now you can listen online and on even on your mobile device.
Lj
Now back to Pandora which I think is just another fad and will fade off into the night like Black Planet, My Space and Blackberry. It's a new way to experience music but it's not as easy to use as radio. You pick your first song but Pandora picks the rest of the play list and some of the songs don't even fit or match, you're limited to the number of songs you can skip if you don't like a song Pandora chooses and it's not even commercial free.
Pandora won't last but the Internet will and the Internet is just another great source traditional radio can use to reach listeners. Radio isn't going anywhere and will only evolve with technology. And with that, not only are you able to listen to your favorite station through a traditional radio but now you can listen online and on even on your mobile device.
Lj
Monday, June 13, 2011
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
When I say tools of the trade I'm not talking about control boards, microphones, cd players or vox pro. I'm talking about your oral cavity, that hole in your mouth through which food is taken and words are spoken.
Your mouth is an instrument. Just ask singers and vocalist. Singers, even a veteran singers warm up before a show. Are you warming up your tool or instrument before your radio show?
A few tongue twisters, mouth and breathing exercises before each show, even voice tracked shows, will loosen up your oral cavity and improve your vocal and speaking skills dramatically.
Take a few minutes before each show, and after you show prep, to do a few of the following exercises. Do each for at least 5 seconds and you'll see a difference immediately.
Tongue Twister:
1 ~ Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
2 ~ I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.
Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.
3 ~ How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
4 ~ Sheena leads, Sheila needs.
5 ~ The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.
Mouth Exercises:
1 ~ Smile BIG and hold for 5 seconds!
2 ~ Fill your cheeks with air and hold for 5 seconds.
3 ~ Say "OOOOOO" with your lips puckered, then "EEEEEEEEEEE" with a big smile 5 times rapidly!
4 ~ Take a deep breath, pucker your lips and blow air through your lips making them vibrate.
5 ~ Stick out your tongue and try to touch your nose for 5 seconds then try and touch your chin for 5 seconds.
With everything you do practice makes perfect. So practice improving your instrument and you'll truly have the best Tools Of The Trade!
Lj
Your mouth is an instrument. Just ask singers and vocalist. Singers, even a veteran singers warm up before a show. Are you warming up your tool or instrument before your radio show?
A few tongue twisters, mouth and breathing exercises before each show, even voice tracked shows, will loosen up your oral cavity and improve your vocal and speaking skills dramatically.
Take a few minutes before each show, and after you show prep, to do a few of the following exercises. Do each for at least 5 seconds and you'll see a difference immediately.
Tongue Twister:
1 ~ Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
2 ~ I saw Susie sitting in a shoe shine shop.
Where she sits she shines, and where she shines she sits.
3 ~ How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?
4 ~ Sheena leads, Sheila needs.
5 ~ The thirty-three thieves thought that they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.
Mouth Exercises:
1 ~ Smile BIG and hold for 5 seconds!
2 ~ Fill your cheeks with air and hold for 5 seconds.
3 ~ Say "OOOOOO" with your lips puckered, then "EEEEEEEEEEE" with a big smile 5 times rapidly!
4 ~ Take a deep breath, pucker your lips and blow air through your lips making them vibrate.
5 ~ Stick out your tongue and try to touch your nose for 5 seconds then try and touch your chin for 5 seconds.
With everything you do practice makes perfect. So practice improving your instrument and you'll truly have the best Tools Of The Trade!
Lj
Sunday, April 10, 2011
PROGRAMMING PHILOSOPHY
I'm often asked how to become a Program Director and while there is no one answer and there are many routes, more often than not you will be asked for your Programming Philosophy when applying for a Program Director position.
The next question is almost always how can I put together a Programming Philosophy and what should it include? For the most part I just provide the interested person an outline and ask that they just let their thoughts and writing flow. If you've been doing this for a while, you already have a good idea of your philosophy on radio but you just don't know how to format it into a written plan. But I'm going to share a quick outline for you.
Programming Philosophy
I ~ Thesis
II ~ Interactive
III ~ Music
IV ~ Imaging
V ~ Community
VI ~ Personalities
VII ~ Promotions/Marketing
Writing your Programming Philosophy is like writing an Essay, its used to argue your point and/or tell a story. And just like a good essay, your Programming Philosophy should begin with a strong thesis statement. After you write your thesis then expand on it in the body of work using the above outline. Ideally one page will suffice, but if your philosophy is that interesting with very intriguing content, then more than one page wont be frowned upon.
Not a lot of people will just give you their Programming Philosophy to just copy, but I encourage you to use this outline, write a paragraph for each section, and in no time you'll have your own Programming Philosophy and feel comfortable presenting it because it will be in your own words.
Lj
The next question is almost always how can I put together a Programming Philosophy and what should it include? For the most part I just provide the interested person an outline and ask that they just let their thoughts and writing flow. If you've been doing this for a while, you already have a good idea of your philosophy on radio but you just don't know how to format it into a written plan. But I'm going to share a quick outline for you.
Programming Philosophy
I ~ Thesis
II ~ Interactive
III ~ Music
IV ~ Imaging
V ~ Community
VI ~ Personalities
VII ~ Promotions/Marketing
Writing your Programming Philosophy is like writing an Essay, its used to argue your point and/or tell a story. And just like a good essay, your Programming Philosophy should begin with a strong thesis statement. After you write your thesis then expand on it in the body of work using the above outline. Ideally one page will suffice, but if your philosophy is that interesting with very intriguing content, then more than one page wont be frowned upon.
Not a lot of people will just give you their Programming Philosophy to just copy, but I encourage you to use this outline, write a paragraph for each section, and in no time you'll have your own Programming Philosophy and feel comfortable presenting it because it will be in your own words.
Lj
Saturday, February 12, 2011
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME
wow, its been a long time since I've posted. It's not that I haven't had plenty to discuss or share, I've just been a little focused on other projects and interest.
If you've visited my blog before or if you're new to the blog, please take a minute to read some of my previous posts. I'm sure you'll find something interesting and still relevant.
I created this blog to share and to help so I promise to start blogging again, leaving little nuggets I've learned alone the way on my 20 year journey in radio. I may even post some video blogs.
Lj
If you've visited my blog before or if you're new to the blog, please take a minute to read some of my previous posts. I'm sure you'll find something interesting and still relevant.
I created this blog to share and to help so I promise to start blogging again, leaving little nuggets I've learned alone the way on my 20 year journey in radio. I may even post some video blogs.
Lj
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